The Blooms of the Ixora

Thursday, January 24, 2013

MY OTHER FAVOURITE WASTE OF TIME - MandyNikko's Collections

As mentioned before, my other favourite waste of time besides photography is stringing fashion accessories. It never fails to amaze me of any finished item especially when it gets good comments from friends. It was also a pleasant surprise that friends are even willing to buy them. I also managed to sell some during the Christmas Carnival of which a portion of the proceeds were donated to charity. If you are on Facebook, perhaps you might just pop in at http://www.facebook.com/#!/MandyNikkosCollections. We are also on Instagram. Credit to my girls for the set up.

I am thankful that my two girls and my son's girlfriend are supportive and are enthusiatic about getting a concept to make this hobby into something more tangible. They are now trying to set up a website and God willing would be available soon.

In trying to get new designs, I noted that charm bracelets and necklace are getting more attention. I like the vintage look. I learned that a charm bracelet is an item of jewellery worn around the wrist. It carries personal ‘charm’ decorative pendants or trinklet which signify important things in the wearer’s life.

Lately, my girls and I managed to string a few and would be available in February hopefully to coincide with Valentine's Day. Reserve orders though are very much welcomed..hehehe..

We have yet to perfect our designs which do not strictly follow the design of a conventional charm bracelet or necklace but be assured that each is made with much joy and enthusiasm.

Here are some pictures. The 'old look' and the frame is deliberately done to heighten the vintage look. They are semi complete as I have yet to fix the clasp, preferably a toggle clasp as we have yet to receive them which were ordered online just a few days ago.

All pictures were taken using our handphone.

Cheers.

Work-in progress, tools and raw materials. Most materials are readily available through the Net and we sometimes get carried away. It is so easy to just click away adding stuff into the cart and later find out much to our dismay that the amount we have to pay has exceeded twice the amount that we were supposed to spend...haha

Bead Turquoise Blue, a personal favourite.

ohh look at the mess.. need to organize.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

A SOMBRE CELEBRATION

A sombre and a celebration.. looks like I am contradicting myself.

Hi All, I guess it is still not to late to say Happy New Year. My first entry for the new year, now the 6th day. My bad for my tardiness. Been meaning to write but lately couldn't get anything out of these old bones.

But back to the Annual Family Reunion that we usually hold every new year eve. This year was done on a slightly sombre scale to respect the memory of my late uncle's demised. My uncle, my dad's youngest brother succumbed to his illness 2 days before the new year. My uncle has been ill with the big C for quite a while. Though he responded to treatment earlier on, he apparently turned out for the worst after Christmas Day. My siblings and I had the opportunity to visit and talked to him a little on Christmas Day when we visited him at home. It was a shock therefore that after a few days, my cousin called us that he had passed away in the hospital.

Our uncle was the nearest to a father to us all as our own father had gone to Lord years ago when I was still in my teens. Deepest sympathy to my aunt and cousins. A rather bleak new year for them. Though sad, we take comfort that God has taken him to a better place, a place where there is pain no more. Rest in peace uncle. Till we meet again someday, we will hold on to the memories...

My siblings and I then contemplated whether to hold the Reunion. But as all the preparations had been made, we proceeded to hold it though on a much lesser scale. No singing, dancing or games. We had our exchange of gifts and of course the usual.. eating. Life has to go on after all. Would like to share some pics taken during the new year eve, some are taken by my sister. My regret, forgot to take nice pics of the food...aiyaaa.

Cheers every one, and God bless.

my sister admiring her pressie. It's gentle reminder

to 'momoli bas' sis..hehehe....

my daughter (left) and my niece

Sweet Young Things... my niece (right) and friend

"i wonder what's this"

my elated daughter ..

ohh... love the shoes.. Those spikes are a killer!!

my beautiful niece..

my lovely niece pleased with her presents..

wonder what they saw..

handing my pressie to my lovely sister..

pressies for the kiddies all the way from Australia...

Saturday, December 29, 2012

YEAR 2012 REVISITED....

Christmas Day came and it went. Gosh, it won't be long before the year is over. In fact I feel like it is going by like a lightning speed. Perhaps it's time to reflect upon what one had accomplished during the year. I had some terrific times and some challenging ones. But who doesn't, for how can one appreciate the good times if one did not experience the bad times, right. Those are part and parcel of life. But how does one know if it was good or not. Sometimes we have the tendency to focus on the bad sides but forget to remember the positive or good times. To reflect, I prefer to focus on those things that I am thankful for. It could be a small thing - perhaps meeting of an old friend or a snap with my camera of some lovely moments.

I have a lot to be thankful for really. I have my family, my extended families, I made many new terrific friends. Friends I feel I can count on. I've traveled to a few places. All these I attribute to blessings from God.

There are too many memories to remember but I would like to share some pictures in random order, some of the highlights that I went through this year.